Mavs' WCHA Membership Begins July 1
Jun 23, 2010 | General, Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. - The next era of UNO hockey begins July 1 when the Mavericks officially become members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavs play their first ever WCHA games on Oct. 15 and 16 when they visit perennial power Minnesota.
UNO, which will play its 14th season of hockey beginning in October of this year, was a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for 11 seasons. It played its first two seasons as an independent.
The Mavericks are coming off their first season under head coach #Dean Blais#. He led UNO to a record of 20-16-6, the fourth 20-win season in school history. UNO finished the regular season with an 8-3-1 stretch and then swept Bowling Green in the first round of the CCHA playoffs. The Mavs then dropped a pair of games to Ferris State in the second round to end their season.
UNO will find plenty of stiff competition in the WCHA. Member schools Denver, North Dakota, Wisconsin, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth all ranked in the top 15 in the season's final national rankings. Wisconsin was the national runner up to Boston College. In addition, Bemidji State, which joins UNO as a new member of the WCHA this season, finished the season ranked 10th.
Outside the WCHA, the Mavericks also will face former CCHA foe Michigan and Frozen Four participant RIT which both finished the season in the top 20.
UNO completed the season receiving votes in the final top 20 poll published by USCHO.com.
UNO is no stranger to future WCHA neighbor Minnesota State. The two schools, which both carry the nickname "Mavericks", have played each other nearly every season since UNO began hockey in 1997. The Mavericks from Mankato lead the all-time series, 13-8-5.
UNO has played all but one WCHA school - North Dakota. The two clubs will square off for the first time ever on Nov. 19 and 20 in Omaha. Blais led UND to two national championships during this ten-year run as its head coach.
The Mavericks don't have much of a history against most of the other WCHA schools. They have played Denver nine times, Bemidji State six times, Wisconsin five times, Michigan Tech and St. Cloud four times and Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth once each.
The Mavericks lost seven seniors from the 2009-10 squad including leading goal-getter #Jeric Agosta# (15) and leading point man #Eddie DelGrosso# (30). The Mavs return the senior duo of #Rich Purslow and Joey Martin# who finished 3-4 in scoring with 27 and 26 points respectively. Puslow and junior #Alex Hudson# each had 14 goals last season to rank second on the team.
Sophomore goaltender #John Faulkner# will look to improve on his solid first season in which he went 13-10-4 and posted a team-best 2.60 goals-against average.
The list of incoming UNO players will be released later this summer.
The Mavericks begin the season with an exhibition game against the University of British Columbia on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:07 p.m. at Qwest Center Omaha.
UNO, which will play its 14th season of hockey beginning in October of this year, was a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for 11 seasons. It played its first two seasons as an independent.
The Mavericks are coming off their first season under head coach #Dean Blais#. He led UNO to a record of 20-16-6, the fourth 20-win season in school history. UNO finished the regular season with an 8-3-1 stretch and then swept Bowling Green in the first round of the CCHA playoffs. The Mavs then dropped a pair of games to Ferris State in the second round to end their season.
UNO will find plenty of stiff competition in the WCHA. Member schools Denver, North Dakota, Wisconsin, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth all ranked in the top 15 in the season's final national rankings. Wisconsin was the national runner up to Boston College. In addition, Bemidji State, which joins UNO as a new member of the WCHA this season, finished the season ranked 10th.
Outside the WCHA, the Mavericks also will face former CCHA foe Michigan and Frozen Four participant RIT which both finished the season in the top 20.
UNO completed the season receiving votes in the final top 20 poll published by USCHO.com.
UNO is no stranger to future WCHA neighbor Minnesota State. The two schools, which both carry the nickname "Mavericks", have played each other nearly every season since UNO began hockey in 1997. The Mavericks from Mankato lead the all-time series, 13-8-5.
UNO has played all but one WCHA school - North Dakota. The two clubs will square off for the first time ever on Nov. 19 and 20 in Omaha. Blais led UND to two national championships during this ten-year run as its head coach.
The Mavericks don't have much of a history against most of the other WCHA schools. They have played Denver nine times, Bemidji State six times, Wisconsin five times, Michigan Tech and St. Cloud four times and Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth once each.
The Mavericks lost seven seniors from the 2009-10 squad including leading goal-getter #Jeric Agosta# (15) and leading point man #Eddie DelGrosso# (30). The Mavs return the senior duo of #Rich Purslow and Joey Martin# who finished 3-4 in scoring with 27 and 26 points respectively. Puslow and junior #Alex Hudson# each had 14 goals last season to rank second on the team.
Sophomore goaltender #John Faulkner# will look to improve on his solid first season in which he went 13-10-4 and posted a team-best 2.60 goals-against average.
The list of incoming UNO players will be released later this summer.
The Mavericks begin the season with an exhibition game against the University of British Columbia on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:07 p.m. at Qwest Center Omaha.
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